The 81st UN General Assembly concluded its high-level debate in New York on Saturday with an address by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. During his speech, Lavrov insisted that the United States must end its "siege" of Cuba and lift all existing restrictions on trade with the island nation.

The remarks capped a week of bilateral meetings and general debate focused on diplomacy, humanitarian crises, and global conflicts. Lavrov's demand for the removal of U.S. sanctions on Cuba served as a primary point of the final day's proceedings.